Improvement in lanterns



W. P. SMITH.

Lantern Patented Sept. 11, 1866.

UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE.

WM. P. SMITH, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

IMPROVEM ENT EN LANTERNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,98B, dated September 11, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. SMITH, of Louisville, Jefferson county, Kentucky, have invented a certain new and useful Folding- Lantern; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, making part of this specification. My invention relates to a lantern which can be folded up and carried in a persons valise or pocket when not in use, it being so arranged as to contain an ordinary candle, a candleholder, and a supply of matches, when in its closed condition, and so that it can be opened and converted into a serviceable lantern in a few minutes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is perspective view of my folding lantern, it being represented entirely opened, so as to exhibit the manner of construction. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the same in a condition for use, and Fig. 3 shows the lantern closed, so as to enable it to be carried in a persons pocket.

A represents the main frame, which may be of stout wire. To this frame the duplex convex top B B, front D, back E E, sides'F G, and wing-pieces H H are all hinged, the bottom Obeing connected to the back E E by means of the hinge 0.

The top of the lantern is composed of two convex parts, B B, which are provided with segmental end pieces, I) b 1) 11 these two convex parts beingheld together by the clasp or catch 1, which is hinged to the part B, and engages with the slot 12 of the other convex part B, when the lantern is ready for use; but in its closed condition this catch engages over the frame A, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The upper edge of the convex part, B, has secured to it, by a customary wire joint, the lower. member, J, of the handle J, the two being linked together at j, and the central portion of the member J is formed into a staple, j, which, when the member J is raised to a vertical position, passes through the slot t" of the convex part B, and rests upon the top of said part, thus assisting the clasp l in holding the two members B B of the top together.

The front D and one side, G, are provided with transparent mediums d and g, which may be made'of glass, mica, or other suitable material, while the back E E and the remaining side F are employed as reflectors, the side F also serving as the bottom of the lantern when closed, the same as represented in Fig. 3.

The back is composed of two parts, E E, which are connected together by the hinge c, and to the frame A by the hinge e, the provision of the hinge e enabling the back and the bottom 0 to be folded into the most compact form.

The bottom C is provided with three upwardly-projecting flanges, c 0 0 which retain the front D and the two sides F and G securely in position, and said bottom has attached to it a rod, K, terminating in a hook, it, which enables the candle-holder L to assume either the vertical position shown in Figs. 1

and 2, or the horizontal one, asindicated by red lines in Fig. 1, it being placed in the latter position when it is desired to close up the lantern.

The holder L is provided with an aperture, which enables it to traverse the rod K, and the hook it prevents it from being disconnected from said rod. and also enables it to be turned over on its side, the holder L having a double bottom, within which the rod passes.

M is a pocket for containing an extra piece of candle, and N is a match-safe, both being attached to the bottom 0.

P is a staple on the bottom of the front D, and said staple passes through the aperture 12 of the bottom 0, and is held in position by the hook R.

The lantern being in the opened condition, as shown in Fig. 1, and it being desired to close it up, so as to produce the compact form shown in Fig. 3, the candleholder L is first turned over to the horizontal position indicated by the dotted red lines of Fig. 1, after which the bottom 0 is folded up, so that the hinge c bears against the wing-piece H, and the flange 0 against the wing H, thus bringing the parts L M N in the space under the convex top of the lantern, and leaving the back E E on the outside of said bottom.

One of the sides, G, the front D, and the other side, F, are, respectively, folded up against the exterior of the bottom 0 and back E E, and the handle J J being turned in un. der the convex top piece B, said piece is cov.

ered by the other convex piece, B, and the clasp I, being engaged over the frame A, and the side F, which now forms the bottom of the lantern, it is at once secured in its compact form.

To open the lantern and restore it to a shape fit for use, as shown in Fig. 2, it is only necessary to reverse this operation, restore the holder L to its vertical position, engage the clasp I with slot i, and then pass the hook It through the staple p, which is the work of a few IDO- ments.

I claim herein as new and of my invention- 1. The two convex top pieces, B B, con-- 3. In combination with the elements of the first claim, the clasp I, for preserving the shape of the lantern, either in its opened or closed condition, as described.

4. A folding lantern having one side made WM. P. SMITH.

Witnesses GEO. H. KNIGHT, GEO. W. Forums. 

